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NOW AVAILABLE!

In an effort to expand our outreach to the masses who are searching for and needing Messianic instruction, we are now offering online Bible studies, delivered by TNN Online editor J.K. McKee. Every Wednesday a new teaching which deals with pertinent topics for today’s Messianic Believers will be presented. For the most part, these studies will be focusing on specific books of the Bible, but may from time to time deal with critical subjects as well.

Click here to access audio teachings

Starting 30 July 2008:
Ephesians Bible Study

Beginning on July 30, we begin a Bible study on Paul's letter of Ephesians. The Epistle of Ephesians is a very important text by which today's Messianic movement can learn to understand what it means to actually be "the Commonwealth of Israel" and fulfill God's mission for the world. It has profound significance regarding who the people of God actually are, how Believers are called to appreciate one another, and how we are supposed to live lives of holiness. TNN Online editor J.K. McKee will be considering the First Century context of Ephesians, regarding the controversies of its intended audience, its likely connections with Colossians, and how Tanach concepts about Israel are deeply embedded within its words. This study will challenge many of us not only regarding proposals made in Ephesians' scholarship, but also where today's Messianic movement needs to be heading in the future.

JULY 2008

Dear Friends:

It is always interesting to gauge the tempo of one's faith community, particularly as it concerns controversial issues and crises when they arise. After a whirlwind June, which saw Outreach Israel host another Shavuot gathering, and then off to a family reunion on the Alabama Gulf Coast, I find myself ready to step up to the challenges that are before us. I prayed to the Lord about a week ago, “Give me the ability to take on the whole world by myself!” I woke up the next morning feeling better than I had in a good long while. I guess sometimes a very short and to the point prayer is all it takes! (But if this doesn't work, I recall somewhere hearing that “a teaspoon of sugar helps the medicine go down...”)

Now we need to get serious. At the outset of this year I said that the focus of much of what we would be doing would regard Messianics and modernity and considering a number of issues as they pertain to how we interact with the world at large. I also said in my January Update that the Messianic world was overdue for an incident, as we had not really seen one since 2005. In 2006 and 2007 we were fortunate enough to dodge the bullet. Not being “prophetic” at all―but simply knowing that something was overdue―something major has now happened. What has taken place will undeniably affect what is discussed in the independent Messianic movement for the remainder of this Summer, and probably also into the Fall. I am not that surprised that what has blown up directly pertains to Messianics and modernity, and how we look at other people. It was an issue, like so many others, that is seen in Scripture even though we act like it is not there.

If there is anything that I dislike, it is having to “react” to things. Each Bible teacher has his or her own subjects and projects to address; we thoroughly dislike having to take time we would like to devote to what God has told us to do, and have to clean up someone else's mess. Yet, this Summer is going to be a period of being butler, maid, garbage collector, garbage compactor, mechanic, secret agent, exterminator, and maybe―just maybe―even Ghostbuster! It is often crises like the one looming over us that can cause us to grow up, and deal with those things that we thought were closed, but really were not. Every sector of the Messianic world will be affected by what has been unleashed, and it could seriously deter―if not halt―the prophesied restoration of Israel for a good while. It is a sign of things to come as we grow out of our diapers and strive to become adults.

One month ago, I had planned to close out our Galatians Bible Study by writing an article entitled “What Are 'Works of the Law'?” and address the phrase ergōn nomou as seen in the text. In fact, I had most of my notes and Scripture references all plugged into a file before leaving for vacation; all that I needed to do was go back and write the article. The article will be written in due time, just not this month. Instead, market forces require that we consider another issue that we discussed in our Galatians Bible Study: “Galatians 3:28: Biblical Equality and Today's Messianic Movement.” This will be the first of a variety of articles over the next few months, where we carefully consider some of the issues that have been forced open. I pray that we can make informed decisions that will help, rather than harm, what God wants the Messianic community to become.

Until next month...

J.K. McKee